IntelliChoice.com's Best Deals for September Highlight Importance of Ownership Costs as Consumers Head into Rebate Season
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SEE ALSO: Compare 2007 and 2008 Models - New Car Buyers Guide
CAMPBELL, Calif.--IntelliChoice.com (www.intellichoice.com), the leading source for automotive ownership cost and value analysis, today announced its “Best Deals of the Month” for cars, trucks, and SUV’s for September 2007. The list reveals the continuing competition between the all-new Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Tundra and, in a first, the Hyundai Sonata taking top honors for the large car segment over the Toyota Avalon. The list also shows the importance of value despite dealers’ September closeouts.
“Starting in September, consumers should be wary, because year-end closeouts can be a blessing and a curse,” said James Bell, publisher of IntelliChoice.com. “They may be welcome, especially in light of the current credit crunch, in that they can reduce monthly payments. But the flip side is that this special money ‘on the hood’ can in certain circumstances accelerate depreciation and hurt resale value on vehicles that may have a long history of rebates. Buyers should always pay close attention to core ownership costs like refueling, maintenance and insurance premiums, rather than basing their decision solely on incentives.”
“Moral of the story? No matter the time of year, shop for a vehicle with strong Cost of Ownership and then look for incentives on those vehicles. That is where bargains may lie.”
IntelliChoice.com’s “Best Deals of the Month” identify new cars, trucks, and SUV’s with the best ownership cost value in 33 respective classes. Selections are based on current car pricing, market conditions and the lowest national manufacturer consumer new car rebate. In addition, IntelliChoice.com uses the latest information from numerous automotive resources to evaluate what it costs to buy, own and operate each new model-year trim line over a five-year basis.
The following “Best Deals” for September 2007 are ranked by vehicle type and size:
| Class | Brand | Model | ||
| Subcompact Car | MINI |
Cooper Hatchback |
||
| Compact Car over $16,000 | Honda | Civic Hybrid | ||
| Compact Car under $16,000 | Honda | Civic Sedan | ||
| Midsize Car over $21,000 | Toyota | Prius | ||
| Midsize Car under $21,000 | Toyota | Prius | ||
| Convertible | MINI | Cooper Convertible | ||
| Luxury Convertible | Audi | A4 Convertible | ||
| Near Luxury Car | Lexus | IS | ||
| Luxury Car | Lexus | ES | ||
| Large Car | Hyundai | Sonata | ||
| Base Sport Car | Honda | Civic Si Coupe | ||
| Sport Car | Chevrolet | Corvette | ||
| Sport Sedan/Wagon over $38,000 | Lexus |
GS Hybrid |
||
| Sport Sedan Wagon under $38,000 | Infiniti | G35 Sport Sedan | ||
| Compact Utility/Crossover | Ford | Escape Hybrid | ||
| Midsize Crossover | Toyota | Highlander Hybrid | ||
| Luxury Crossover | Lexus | RX 400h | ||
| Small Wagon | Toyota | Matrix | ||
| Midsize/Large Wagon | Subaru | Outback Wagon | ||
| Intermediate Utility | Hummer | H3 | ||
| Full-Size Utility | Toyota | Sequoia | ||
| Luxury Utility | Lexus | GX | ||
| Compact Pickup Truck 2WD | Toyota | Tacoma Regular Cab 2WD | ||
| Compact Pickup 4WD | Toyota | Tacoma Regular Cab 4WD | ||
| Full-Size Pickup Truck 2WD ½ Ton | Toyota | Tundra Regular Cab 2WD | ||
| Full-Size Pickup Truck 2WD ¾ Ton | Chevrolet | Silverado 2500 HD Crew Cab 2WD | ||
| Full-Size Pickup Truck 2WD One Ton | Chevrolet | Silverado 3500 HD Crew Cab 2WD | ||
| Full-Size Pickup Truck 4WD ½ Ton | Toyota | Tundra Regular Cab 4WD | ||
| Full-Size Pickup Truck 4WD ¾ Ton | Chevrolet | Silverado 2500 HD Crew Cab 4WD | ||
| Full-Size Pickup Truck 4WD One Ton | Chevrolet | Silverado 3500 HD Crew Cab 4WD | ||
| Minivan | Honda | Odyssey Passenger Van | ||
| Full-Size Van | Chevrolet | Express 1500 Passenger Van | ||
| Cargo Van | Chevrolet | Uplander Cargo Van |
IntelliChoice.com Helps Consumers Do Their Homework
IntelliChoice.com updates vehicle data several times a month in order to capture the many expiring car rebates and ongoing incentive programs offered by manufacturers—giving consumers the most up-to-date analysis.
IntelliChoice.com’s “Best Deals” designation enables consumers to identify how car rebates affect a vehicle’s value throughout ownership and not just at the time of purchase. Ownership costs can vary significantly among different trim lines of the same model. Additionally, IntelliChoice.com continuously updates fuel costs based on the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Vehicles designated as “IntelliChoice.com Best Deals of the Month” are typically cars and trucks that have good to great ownership cost values before any manufacturer rebate. However, a rebate can often turn a good ownership cost value into a great value, and a great value into an “IntelliChoice.com Best Deals of the Month.”
Please visit www.intellichoice.com for more information or to check the auto rebate section of any vehicle report for the most up-to-date incentives.
About IntelliChoice.com
IntelliChoice.com, part of Enthusiast Media's Automotive Digital, is the market leader in automotive ownership cost and value analysis. Founded in 1986, IntelliChoice.com is committed to empowering consumers to make better purchase decisions by providing independent and essential automotive information and tools. Through the IntelliChoice.com web site (www.intellichoice.com), consumers get the help they need to research, compare, configure and price vehicles. The site also connects buyers to the buying alternatives of their choice, including vehicle manufacturers and an online car buying guide. Enthusiast Media is a division of Source Interlink Companies, Inc., , a media and marketing services company. Source Interlink (www.sourceinterlink.com) is one of the largest publishers of magazines and online content for enthusiast audiences and a leading distributor of home entertainment products, including DVDs, music CDs, magazines, games, books and related items.